Device and method for providing power to lighting elements for use as a visual indicator in a medical probe

ABSTRACT

A lighting device for use as a visual indicator in a medical probe is provided. The lighting device includes one or more light emitting elements that are used as a visual status indicator for the medical probe, and a driver circuit that receives current from a power source and drives the light emitting elements. The driver circuit includes a current sensor to sense a current flowing through the light emitting elements, and a shut off switch. The shut off switch shuts off the power source current from the light emitting elements based on the sensed current from the current sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. Section119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/986,472, filed Nov.8, 2007, entitled “Medical Devices And Methods Of Using The Same”, whichis fully incorporated by reference herein.

This application is also related to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.12/267,307, filed Nov. 7, 2008, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to medical probes for monitoring ortreating patients, and in particular, a lighting device for use with themedical probes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, a medical device for treating a mammalian subject usingtherapeutic energy to destroy or remove undesirable living biologicaltissues has a handle and a probe coupled to the handle. The probecontains one or more electrodes to which an electrical power source isconnected. The power source delivers the therapeutic energy to thetarget tissue through the electrodes. When the probe is applying thetherapeutic energy to the tissue, the power source generates acontinuous sound to let the physician know that the probe is in anactive mode. However, in a typical operating room, there may be othermedical devices that are also generating similar sounds. That makes itvery difficult for a physician to determine whether the probe is in anactive mode or not.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved device andmethod for alerting the physician regarding the probe status.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the invention, a lighting device for use as a visualindicator in a medical probe is provided. The lighting device includesone or more light emitting elements that are used as a visual statusindicator for the medical probe, and a driver circuit that receivescurrent from a power source and drives the light emitting elements. Thedriver circuit includes a current sensor to sense a current flowingthrough the light emitting elements, and a shut off switch. The shut offswitch is adapted to shut off the power source current from the lightemitting elements based on the sensed current from the current sensor.

In one aspect of the invention, the driver circuit uses the same powersource which is used to provide therapeutic energy to tissue.

In another aspect of the invention, the driver circuit includes anenergy supplying capacitor connected to the light emitting elements andprovides current thereto while the shut off switch is shutting off thepower source current from the light emitting elements so as to providecontinuous driving current to the light emitting elements.

In another aspect of the invention, the driver circuit is housed in themedical probe and the power source is located outside of the medicalprobe.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of providingpower to one or more light emitting elements for use as a visualindicator in a medical probe is provided. In the method, current flowingthrough the light emitting elements is sensed. When the sensed currentreaches a predetermined threshold, the current being provided to thelight emitting elements is shut off. When the sensed current retreatsfrom the predetermined threshold, the current is again provided to thelight emitting elements so as to provide continuous driving current tothe light emitting elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a therapeutic energy delivery device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the distalend of the therapeutic energy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of an additional embodiment of the distal end ofthe therapeutic energy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a plan view of an additional embodiment of the distal end ofthe therapeutic energy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a plan view of an additional embodiment of the distal end ofthe therapeutic energy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 2D is a plan view of an additional embodiment of an articulatingsegment of the therapeutic energy delivery device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2E is a plan view of the articulating segment of FIG. 2D beingshown in an articulated position.

FIG. 3 is a partial cutout perspective view of a base of the therapeuticenergy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cutout perspective view of a rack-and-pinionmechanism of the therapeutic energy delivery device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a printed circuit board (PCB) of thetherapeutic energy delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram of a lighting device for a medical probeaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a circuit diagram of a lighting device for a medical probeaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C is a functional block diagram of a lighting device for a medicalprobe according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6D is a circuit diagram for the lighting device of FIG. 6C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terminologiesemployed in the present disclosure shall have the meanings that arecommonly understood and used by one of ordinary skill in the art. Unlessotherwise required by context, it will be understood that singular termsshall include plural forms of the same and plural terms shall includethe singular. Specifically, as used herein and in the claims, thesingular forms “a” and “an” include the plural reference unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, the reference toa microparticle is a reference to one such microparticle or a pluralityof such microparticles, including equivalents thereof known to oneskilled in the art. Also, as used herein and in the claims, the terms“at least one” and “one or more” have the same meaning and include one,two, three or more. The following terms, unless otherwise indicated,shall be understood to have the following meanings when used in thecontext of the present disclosure.

“Therapeutic energy” and “TE”, used interchangeably herein and in thecontexts of “therapeutic energy delivery” and “TED” as well as“therapeutic energy conversion” and “TEC”, refer to the energy outputfrom the treatment member(s) of the devices or portions thereof (e.g.,distal segment(s) of the treatment member(s)) to its immediatesurroundings, such as the target tissue(s) when present. Energy outputfrom a power source, prior to its modification by the devices, is notconsidered to be therapeutic energy. Non-limiting examples oftherapeutic energy include electromagnetic energy such as radiofrequency energy, radiant thermal energy, radiation energy, acousticenergy (e.g., ultrasonic energy), and combinations of two or morethereof.

“Radio frequency” and “RF”, used interchangeably, refer toelectromagnetic waves having a frequency of 3 GHz or less, such asbetween 500 MHz and 3 GHz (microwaves), 100 MHz or less, 10 MHz or less,1 MHz or less, optionally 10 kHz or greater, such as 100 kHz or greater.

“Operator” refers to a person or a robotic assembly who uses the devicesfor treatments, particularly in patients (e.g., coagulation, ablation).The operator may be a physician, including interventional radiologists,oncologists, and surgeons.

“Polymer” or “polymeric” refers to a natural, recombinant, synthetic, orsemisynthetic molecule having in at least one main chain, branch, orring structure two or more repeating monomer units. Polymers broadlyinclude dimers, trimers, tetramers, oligomers, higher molecular weightpolymers, adducts, homopolymers, random copolymers, pseudocopolymers,statistical copolymers, alternating copolymers, periodic copolymers,bipolymers, terpolymers, quaterpolymers, other forms of copolymers,substituted derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, and narrowlyrefer to molecules having or more repeating monomer units. Polymers canbe linear, branched, block, graft, monodisperse, polydisperse, regular,irregular, tactic, isotactic, syndiotactic, stereoregular, atactic,stereoblock, single-strand, double-strand, star, comb, dendritic, and/orionomeric, can be ionic or non-ionic, can be neutral, positivelycharged, negatively charged, or zwitterionic, and can be used singly orin combination of two or more thereof.

Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise expresslyspecified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values and percentagessuch as those for quantities of materials, durations of times,temperatures, operating conditions, ratios of amounts, and the likesthereof disclosed herein should be understood as modified in allinstances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to thecontrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the present disclosureand attached claims are approximations that can vary as desired. At thevery least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed inlight of the number of reported significant digits and by applyingordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in theirrespective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges ofvarying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that anycombination of these values inclusive of the recited values can be used.

“Formed from” and “formed of” denote open claim language. As such, it isintended that a member “formed from” or “formed of” a list of recitedcomponents and/or materials be a member comprising at least theserecited components and/or materials, and can further include othernon-recited components and/or materials.

Examples provided herein, including those following “such as” and“e.g.,” are considered as illustrative only of various aspects andfeatures of the present disclosure and embodiments thereof, withoutlimiting the scope of any of the referenced terms or phrases eitherwithin the context or outside the context of such descriptions. Anysuitable equivalents, alternatives, and modifications thereof (includingmaterials, substances, constructions, compositions, formulations, means,methods, conditions, etc.) known and/or available to one skilled in theart can be used or carried out in place of or in combination with thosedisclosed herein, and are considered to fall within the scope of thepresent disclosure. Throughout the present disclosure in its entirety,any and all of the one, two, or more features and aspects disclosedherein, explicitly or implicitly, following terms “example”, “examples”,“such as”, “e.g.”, and the likes thereof may be practiced in anycombinations of two, three, or more thereof (including theirequivalents, alternatives, and modifications), whenever and whereverappropriate as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Some ofthese examples are themselves sufficient for practice singly (includingtheir equivalents, alternatives, and modifications) without beingcombined with any other features, as understood by one of ordinary skillin the art. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy aspects and features of the present disclosure in virtually anyappropriate manner.

The present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6D. Atherapeutic energy delivery device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1A. Atreatment member 12 delivers the therapeutic energy to tissue. Treatmentmember 12 may adopt an elongated configuration, as illustrated herein,such as in the general shape of a trocar, a probe, a needle, a cannula,an antenna, or the likes thereof that is commonly used in the medicalprofession. Treatment member 12 has a distal end that may or may not beable to penetrate soft tissues, or be able to adopt either configurationas disclosed herein.

Treatment member 12 includes a proximal segment 20 and a distal segment26. Treatment member 12 of the TED devices may have a diameter of 1 mmor greater and/or 100 mm or less, such as 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20mm, or in a range between any two of such values. Treatment member 12may have a longitudinal length of 5 cm or greater and/or 100 cm or less,such as 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, 45 cm, 50 cm, 60 cm, 70 cm,80 cm, 90 cm, or in a range between any two of such values. Distalsegment 26 of the TED devices may have a longitudinal length of 0.5 cmor greater and/or 50 cm or less, such as 1 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, or in a range between anytwo of such values.

The distal segment 26 includes one or more electrodes 60 (e.g., two,three, four, or more electrodes, optionally aligned in parallel witheach other) for delivering the therapeutic energy to the tissue. CertainTED devices disclosed herein may have two TED elements (such aselectrodes) or less, suitable for relatively small resection lines.Certain TED devices disclosed herein may have four TED elements (such aselectrodes) or more, suitable for resections where speed is more of aconcern than size. TED elements 60 of the TED devices may have anexposable longitudinal length of 0.5 cm or greater and/or 10 cm or less,such as 1 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, or a rangebetween any two of such values.

The distal segment 26 may further include a guard piece 62. Guard piece62 may be round-ended (e.g., substantially hemi-spheroidal orbullet-shaped), and may be present for shielding healthy tissues fromtissue-piercing ends of certain embodiments of electrodes 60. Guardpiece 62 may be retractable as described herein, allowing pointedelectrodes 60 to be exposed for insertion into the target tissue. Guardpiece 62, when it is locked to shield pointed tips of TED elements 60,may withstand a compression force of at least 1 lb before failure(exposure of pointed tip) occurs so as to prevent unintendedtissue-piercing during introduction of treatment member 12.

As will be discussed in further detail below, the distal segment 26 mayfurther include a therapeutic energy conversion (TEC) portion 65.

Proximal segment 20 and distal segment 26 may be substantially similarin rigidity. An articulating segment 24 is connected between theproximal segment 20 and the distal segment 26 such that the distalsegment 26 is articulatable with respect to a longitudinal axis of theproximal segment 20. Distal segment 26 may be able to cover at least onecircular sector having a central angle of π/6 radians or 15 greater, theat least one circular sector being symmetric with respect to thelongitudinal axis of main segment 20. The central angle of the at leastone circular sector coverable by articulatable TED segment 26 may be π/3radians or greater, or π/2 radians or greater, or 2π/3 radians orgreater, or 5π/6 radians or greater, or π radians or greater, or in arange between any two of such values.

Proximal to treatment member 12, device 10 may include a base 13 for anoperator to manipulate treatment member 12 or portions thereof (e.g.,the distal segment 26 and the guard piece 62, among others). The base 13may include a handle 35 that includes a gripping section 50 and atrigger 58. A collar 30 is rotatably coupled to the base, whereinrotation of the collar 30 rotates the proximal segment 20 about itslongitudinal axis. Collar 30, when reticulated, may be locked in one ormore pre-set angles or in any angle desired or adjusted by the operator.The base 13 may have a side port 32 for coupling to a turning knob 33.Other visible features on handle 35 may include a portion of a triggerslide 57, a lever portion of a retraction lock 54 (slidable, whendepressed, along a slot 52), and a therapeutic energy delivery switchactuator 59 (which includes push buttons on both sides of base 13) thatturns device 10 on or off.

It is noted that a continuous tubular sheath, made of biologicallycompatible materials (e.g., stainless steel, titanium, alloys thereof),may surround the proximal segment 20, articulation segment 24, anddistal segment 26, as shown in FIG. 1A. The tubular sheath operates toprotect the components of treatment member 12 when they are positionedwithin a patient during a procedure. Features such as a spiral cut maybe fashioned along the tubular sheath over the articulating segment 24to provide the required flexibility thereto.

TED devices may be constructed to be robust, for example, having one ormore of the following characteristics: a tensile strength of 1-5 lb ormore from TED 10 elements 60 to handle 35; a torque of 0.1-0.5 in-lbs ormore between TED elements 60 and handle 35; a bending moment of 1-4in-lbs or more between TED elements 60 and main segment 20; a resistanceof 1-4 in-lbs or more for articulation segment 24 in a nonarticulatingdirection; a bending moment of 5-20 in-lbs or more between proximalsegment 20 and base 13.

Distal segment 26, when articulated, may be locked in one or morepre-set angles or in any angle desired or adjusted by the operator. Sucha locking mechanism may withstand a compression and/or torque force of1-2 lbs or more exerted at handle 35 before failure occurs. When distalsegment 26 is at maximal articulation angle (e.g., 75 degrees orgreater), articulation segment 24 may withstand a compression and/ortorque force of 1-2 lbs or more exerted at handle 35 before failureoccurs. Alternatively or in addition, articulation segment 24 may allowthe distal end of distal segment 26 to arc 0.5 inches or less beforebreaking free of the locked angle.

TED devices and components therein may be able to withstand exposure to2× ethylene oxide sterilization without incurring functional failures.TED devices and components therein may be substantially biocompatible.

TED devices disclosed herein may be used in monopolar configurationsand/or bipolar configurations. The geometry of resultingablation/resection volumes may depend at least in part on theconfiguration of TED elements 60. For example, with a linear arrangementof two or more electrodes, the ablation volume may have a minimumdiameter of 1 mm to 2 mm, such as 1.8 mm. With a two-dimensionarrangement of four or more electrodes, the ablation volume may have amajor cross-section, at a minimum, of 5×5 mm to 10×10 mm, such as 8×8mm. TED devices may be activated by switch 70 (FIG. 3) throughdepression of switch actuator 59 on base 13. Alternatively or incombination, TED devices may be activated by one or more foot pedals.

FIG. 1B illustrates the distal end of an additional embodiment of thetherapeutic energy delivery device 10′ of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the articulating segment 24′ includes a common hinge joint.In this way, the distal segment 26 is articulatable with respect to alongitudinal axis of the proximal segment 20.

FIG. 2A illustrates an additional embodiment of the articulating segment24 of FIG. 1A, wherein the articulating segment 24 is a living hinge.The living hinge 24 may have a proximal portion 43 that is connected tothe proximal segment 20 (FIG. 1A); and a distal portion 44 that isconnected to the distal segment 26. Near the middle section of theliving hinge 24, there are two longitudinally spaced recessed portions46 that define where the articulation occurs. It should be noted thatthe living hinge may include any number of recessed portions, includingone, two, three, four or more. One or more articulating cables 22 a, 22b (see FIGS. 2C-2E) are used to articulate the distal segment 26 withrespect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal segment 20. The distalsegment 26 includes electrodes 60 and guard piece 62. The guard piece 62is connected to a central cable 64 which passes through a longitudinalthrough-bore of the living hinge 24. Pulling central cable 64 towards aproximal end of device 10 (e.g., by pulling trigger 58 of FIG. 1A) mayeffectively retract guard piece 62, thereby exposing electrodes 60 forinsertion into target tissue. The living hinge 24 may include a sealingplug 25 at its proximal end. At least two electrically conductive wires61 a, 61 b (one positive and one negative) are used to deliver thetherapeutic energy to the electrodes 60. In addition, a printed circuitboard 66 may be positioned perpendicularly to central cable 64 andelectrodes 62. In addition, the central cable 64 may include a flexibleportion (not shown) that is flexible which allows the central cable 64to bend when the device is articulated.

FIG. 2B illustrates an additional embodiment of the distal segment 26 ofFIG. 1A. As discussed in greater detail below, the distal segment 26 mayinclude one or more light emitting elements 69 for use as a visualindicator to indicate that the electrodes 60 are delivering thetherapeutic energy to the tissue. The distal segment 26 may also includea driver circuit on a printed circuit board 66 having an input coupledto the articulating cables 22 a, 22 b (see FIGS. 2C-2E) and an outputcoupled to the light emitting elements 69. The light-emitting members 69may emit light in a noncontinuous fashion (e.g., flashing with a regularinterval) when TED device is in stand-by mode, so as to bedifferentiated from the continuous light emission during TED mode.

FIG. 2C illustrates an additional embodiment of the treatment member 12of FIG. 1A. At least two articulating cables 22 a, 22 b may run alongthe living hinge 24 to articulate the distal segment 26. In oneembodiment, the articulating cables may run along longitudinal sidechannels of the articulating segment 24. Pulling one or the otherarticulating cables 22 a, 22 b proximally in parallel to thelongitudinal axis of proximal segment 20 may effectively articulate thedistal portion 44 of the living hinge 24, thereby articulating thedistal segment 26, from one side to the other. A first articulatingcable 22 a articulates the distal segment 26 in a first direction; asecond articulating cable 22 b articulates the distal segment 26 in asecond direction. The first articulating cable 22 a and secondarticulating cable 22 b are positioned on opposite sides of each otherrelative to the longitudinal axis of the living hinge 24. It should benoted that the living hinge may include any number of articulatingcables, including one, two, three, four or more, wherein the number ofarticulating cables corresponds generally to the number of articulatingdirections that are possible. Side channels 47 may be used for housingadditional cables if necessary.

In one embodiment, the distal ends of articulating cables 22 a, 22 b maybe coupled (e.g., welded, crimped, etc.) to the proximal ends of atleast two of the electrodes 60, so that the articulating cables 22 a, 22b are used both to articulate the distal segment 26 and to deliver thetherapeutic energy to the electrodes 60. In this embodiment, thearticulating cables 22 a, 22 b consist of an electrically conductivematerial. For example, a first electrically conductive articulatingcable 22 a may run along the articulating segment 24, wherein the firstarticulating cable 22 a is used both to articulate the distal segment 26in a first direction and to deliver the therapeutic energy to at leastone positive electrode; a second electrically conductive articulatingcable 22 b may run along the articulating segment 24, and spaced fromthe first articulating cable 22 a, wherein the second articulating cable22 b is used both to articulate the distal segment 26 in a seconddirection and to deliver the therapeutic energy to at least one negativeelectrode. By using the articulating cables to both articulate thedistal segment 26 and to deliver the therapeutic energy to theelectrodes 60, the number of parts is reduced, thereby reducing the costof manufacturing the device. In the embodiment shown, electricallyconductive wires called “Percon 24” from Fisk Alloy Conductor, Inc. ofHawthorne, N.J., are used.

FIG. 2D illustrates an additional embodiment of the articulating segment24 of FIG. 1A. Near the middle section of the living hinge 24, there arefour longitudinally spaced recessed portions 46 that define where thearticulation occurs. As the number of articulating locations isincreased, the amount of bending that is required in each respectivearticulating location is reduced, thereby reducing the localizedstresses encountered at the recessed portions 46 with each bend, therebyprolonging the useful life of the device. In this embodiment, a pair ofribs 49 are longitudinally disposed within the living hinge 24, whereinthe ribs 49 prevent the distal segment 26 from articulating in apredetermined direction. Further, if the distal portion 44 of the livinghinge 24 is somehow articulated in the unintended predetermineddirection, the ribs 49 would withstand the stresses and protect therecessed portions 46 of the living hinge 24 against mechanical failure.For example, cross-section wise, if the articulating wires 22 a, 22 bare placed at zero degree and 180 degrees, respectively, then the tworibs 49 would be placed at 90 degrees and 270 degrees with the planarsides of each rib facing zero degree and 180 degrees.

In the illustrated embodiment, the articulating cables 22 a, 22 b arenot used to deliver the therapeutic energy to the electrodes 60. Thereare two electrically conductive wires 61 a, 61 b for delivering thetherapeutic energy to the electrodes 60.

FIG. 2E illustrates the articulating segment of FIG. 2D being shown inan articulated position. Here, the second articulating cable 22 b hasbeen pulled such that the distal portion 44 of the living hinge 24 isarticulated in a second direction.

FIG. 3 shows certain components housed partially or fully in base 13 ofFIG. 1A. Handle 35 may be composed of separately molded pistol-shapedleft and right pieces that are coupled together by adhesives or screws.Trigger 58 may be movably coupled with a trigger mechanism 56, which inturn may be movably coupled to trigger slide 57. In combination withcentral cable 64 (FIGS. 2A-2C), these features allow an operator toretract guard piece 62 and expose pointed electrodes 60 for insertioninto target tissue for treatment. The extent of the retraction may bemodulated through retraction lock 54, which can slide to allow variouspartial retraction lengths of guard piece 62, thereby adjusting thelength of exposed electrodes 60 for treating target tissues of varioussizes. Upon release of the trigger 58, a torsion spring 53 pushes thetrigger 58 back to its default position. Because the central cable 64 isattached in-between the slide 57 and the guard piece 62, the guard piece62 is also returned to its default position upon release of the trigger58. Switch 70 may be placed adjacent switch actuator 59 such that theoperator can depress either side of actuator 59 to turn on or off powersupply to the device and the electrodes 60 therein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rack-and-pinion mechanism of the therapeutic energydelivery device of the present invention. The rack-and-pinion mechanismis connected to the proximal ends of the articulating cables 22 a, 22 b.The rack-and-pinion mechanism is adapted to pull the articulating cables22 a, 22 b to articulate the distal segment 26 (FIG. 1A). Turning knob33 (FIG. 1A) may be detachably coupled to an adapted side of pinion 36,which in turn is adapted (e.g., through complementary teeth) on anopposite side to a pair of racks 37 arranged in parallel to face eachother. Racks 37 may be positioned within a generally tubular housing 38,such that racks 37 move in parallel but opposite directions along thehousing 38 when pinion 36 is rotated by turning knob 33. This motion maybe utilized to pull one of the articulating cables 22 a, 22 b toarticulate the distal segment 26 (FIG. 1A) with respect to the proximalsegment 20 (FIG. 1A), as described herein. Cable truck 34 may work inconjunction with bulges along articulating cables 22 a, 22 b to tightenand secure articulation cables 22 a, 22 b in the racks 37. Therack-and-pinion mechanism is capable of reticulating the distal segment26 (FIG. 1A) about the longitudinal axis of the proximal segment 20 overa radial angle of at least 90 degrees, such as 120 degrees or greater,or 150 degrees or greater, or 180 degrees or greater.

The combination of the reticulating motion and the articulating motionallows the distal segment 26 to cover not only a two-dimensionalcircular sector, but rather a three-dimensional spheroidal sector, suchas substantially an entire hemisphere. Such wide range of motionsmaximizes the degree of freedom an operator enjoys when positioning thedevice into hard-to-reach target tissues. This minimizes the need forrepeated treatment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a printed circuit board 66 of the present inventionwhich contains a driver circuit 74 (see FIG. 6C). Its purpose isdescribed in greater detail below. The lines illustrate the printedcircuitry. Central through-bore 68 may allow rod 64 (FIG. 2A-2C) to passthrough. Peripheral slots 67 may allow electrodes 60 (FIG. 2A-2C) topass through. A portion of the printed circuitry may be in directcontact with at least one of the electrodes 60 that passes through theprinted circuit board 66.

As shown in FIG. 6, the input terminals E1 and E2 are adapted to receiveRF energy from a power source (not shown). The RF energy is either atest energy or therapeutic energy. In one embodiment, the therapeuticenergy is a 460 kHz RF signal provided to the electrodes. The voltagecan vary from 15 volts to 135 volts rms (+200 volt to −200 voltpeak-to-peak) depending on the treatment level of a particular patient.The test energy is a 100 milisecond long, 460 kHz, 32 volts rms RFsignal sent once a second to the electrodes. Both test and therapeuticenergy signals are sinusoidal signals in the embodiment shown. While themedical probe is in a ready mode and not in an operating mode, the testenergy signal is used to determine whether the medical probe is insertedinto the tissue or not by monitoring the impedance across theelectrodes. If the operator activates the medical probe 10 while it isoutside of the tissue, the energy source is prevented from supplying thetherapeutic energy to the electrodes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the RF energyprovided to the electrodes for treating a patient is also used to powerone or more light emitting elements that are preferably positioned nearthe distal end of the medical probe 10. The lighting elements are usedby the physician as a visual indicator. If the lighting elements are litcontinuously, that means the medical probe is in an operating mode inwhich the therapeutic energy is being applied to the target tissue. Ifthe lighting elements are blinking, e.g., lit for a very short time(e.g., one tenth of a second) every second, that means the medical probeis in a standby in which the therapeutic energy is not being applied tothe target tissue.

FIG. 6A illustrates one lighting device for the medical probe 10 thatruns on DC and is adapted to be positioned within the treatment member12 (FIG. 1A). The therapeutic energy from the power source is fed to afull-wave rectifier (shown inside a chip) to produce DC. The DC currentdrives a series of light emitting diodes (eight as shown). Each diode asshown needs about 3 volts to turn on. The capacitor C1 acts as a currentlimiting capacitor to limit the current and power dissipation of thelight emitting diodes.

One disadvantage of this design is that at a relatively low treatmentlevel (lower therapeutic energy level) or on standby, the light emittingdiodes are dim making it difficult for the physician to see while at ahigh treatment level, the diodes may be very bright.

FIG. 6B shows another lighting device for the medical probe 10. The RFenergy from a power source is provided at input terminals E1 and E2. Acapacitor C1 is a current limiting capacitor that limits the currentbeing provided to light emitting elements D1-D4. Each of the lightemitting elements D1-D4 is a light emitting diode with a driving voltageof about 3 volts. The two diodes CR1,CR2 connected to the currentlimiting capacitor C1 are a half-wave rectifier that converts the RFtherapeutic energy at terminals E1, E2 into DC. A resistor R3 connectedbetween the diode D4 and ground is a current sensing resistor thatsenses the current flowing through the diodes D1-D4. Resistors R1,R2 andtransistor Q1 act as a shunt circuit to dump excess current when thecurrent through the resistor R3 reaches a predetermined threshold level.

For example, when the current reaches about 20 mili-amps, the transistorQ1 begins to turn on and any current in excess of 20 mili-amps is dumpedto ground through the resistor R1 and transistor Q1. When the transistorQ1 is on, the RF therapeutic energy is providing DC current to both theresistor R1 and diodes D1-D4. One disadvantage for this circuit is thatthe resistor R1 becomes very hot. This makes it unsuitable to house thecircuit in a very small area within the treatment member 12 of themedical probe 10.

FIG. 6C illustrates a functional block diagram of another lightingdevice 72 design and FIG. 6D illustrates a detailed circuit design ofthe lighting device of FIG. 6C. The lighting device 72 includes a set oflight emitting elements 76 that are driven by a driver circuit 74. Thedriver circuit 74 is powered by RF energy from a power source which isprovided at input terminals E1 and E2. As discussed above, the powersource outputs either the test energy or therapeutic energy both being a460 kHz RF signal. A current limiting capacitor 78, which acts as animpedance to the AC signal being provided from the input terminalsE1,E2, limits the current provided to light emitting elements 76 whichare connected in series with each other. Each of the light emittingelements D1-D4 is a light emitting diode with a driving voltage of about3 volts. A rectifier 80 connected to the current limiting capacitor 78is a half-wave rectifier that converts the RF therapeutic energy or testenergy at terminals E1, E2 into DC. The rectifier 80 includes diode D5and a hidden diode within a transistor Q3. A current sensor 82 whichincludes a resistor R3 is connected between the light emitting elements76 and ground. A shut off switch 84 comprises a field effect transistor(FET) Q3, transistors Q1,Q2, resistors R1, R12 and R11, and capacitorC3. An energy supplying capacitor 86 is connected between the input ofthe light emitting elements 76 and ground.

In operation, the RF signal at the input terminals E1,E2 is converted toa DC signal by the rectifier 80. The DC signal charges the energysupplying capacitor 86. When the capacitor 86 is charged to about 12 to13 volts, the light emitting elements 76 turn on. The light emittingelements 76 are used as a visual indicator to a physician that themedical probe 10 is either in the active mode in which case the lightsare lit continuously or in the standby mode in which case the lightemitting elements would flash every second.

The current sensor 82 senses the current flowing through the diodesD1-D4. When the current reaches a predetermined threshold level, e.g.,about 22 milli-amps (about a 0.6 volt drop across the 27 Ohm sensingresistor R3), the shut off switch 84 shuts off the power source currentfrom the diodes D1-D4. Specifically, the current sensor 82 turns on thetransistor Q1, which turns on the transistor Q2 which turns on thetransistor Q1 very hard, essentially locking each other transistor on.In the process, it turns on the FET transistor Q3. This connects thecurrent limiting capacitor 78 to ground so that the power sourceconnected to the input terminals is no longer supplying any current tothe rectifier 80 and the diodes D1-D4.

During that time, the energy supplying capacitor 86 supplies current tothe diodes D1-D4. As the capacitor 86 discharges, the current throughthe diodes D1-D4 falls below the predetermined threshold level. Thisturns off the transistors Q1, Q2 and Q3 in that sequence. Then, thecycle repeats. Thus, the driver circuit 74 acts as a current regulatorto provide a relatively constant current e.g., between about 21-22milli-amps, to the diodes D1-D4 without wasting any power and thereforewithout any build up of heat.

As can be appreciated, the lighting device of FIG. 6C provides manybenefits. First, there is no power dissipation from the power sourcewhile the shut off switch 84 is shutting off the power source currentfrom the diodes D1-D4. This means there is no heat build up in thecircuits. Consequently, such an efficient design allows the lightingdevice to be housed inside a confined space of a medical probe. Second,the driver circuit 74 accommodates a wide range of voltage levels oftherapeutic energy. So long as the energy level exceeds the totalvoltage drops of the diodes D1-D4, which is about 12 volts, the lightingdevice 72 provides a constant brightness regardless of the treatmentenergy level. Third, because the driver circuit 74 uses the same powersource as that used for treating the patient, there is no need to runseparate electrical wires from the RF energy source to the probe,simplifying the design of the probe.

TED devices may be provided in kits that include the device, one or moresets of cables and/or tubing attached or adaptable to the device, and aninstruction for use (IFU). IFU may be in accordance with distributorand/or regulatory requirements. IFU may state intended use of the deviceand associated components, contraindication, warnings, cautions,precautions, and/or restrictions on combinations. For example, a kit maycontain a TED 10 device, a set of cables and/or tubing coupled to or isadapted to be coupled to the device, and an instruction for use of thedevice. The device may contain a treatment member 12 for delivering atherapeutic energy to a target tissue, and at least one of thefollowing: a distal segment 26 of treatment member 12 is articulatablewith respect to the remainder of treatment member 12; a rotatable collar30 coupled to a proximal portion of treatment member 12 for reticulatingtreatment member 12; and/or a circuitry positioned along a distalsegment 26 of treatment member 12 for converting a portion of thedelivered therapeutic energy to electric current (e.g., direct current).

Software on a computer-readable medium may be used to control certainaspects of using the devices, such as controlling power (e.g.,amplitude, pulse frequency) to the device, analyzing feedback signalsfrom TED segment (e.g., thermal readings, impedance, visual signals),and providing signals for actions (e.g., readiness, stand-by, power-on,power-off, warnings, failure signals). For example, a software packagestored or installed on a computer-readable medium may be used forfacilitating and/or enabling the methods and/or processes of using theTED devices.

Methods and processes of using the devices disclosed herein may involveone, two, or more of the following actions, in serial and/or in parallelwith each other. Specifically, the treatment member 12 of the devicesmay be introduced into a patient. The device may contain a collar 30proximal to treatment member 12 and be coupled thereto in a fashion suchthat reticulation of collar 30 causes simultaneous reticulation oftreatment member 12 about its longitudinal axis. Treatment member 12 mayfurther contain an articulatable segment 26. Articulatable segment 26may further contain a plurality of electrodes 60 with their pointed tipsembedded in a guard piece 62. Articulatable segment 26 may be aligned toa target tissue such that a distance between the target tissue andarticulatable segment 26 is shorter than the longitudinal length of thearticulatable segment 26. Collar 30 may be reticulated by an operator toreticulate treatment member 12 such that at least one plane ofarticulation of articulatable segment 26 passes through the targettissue. Articulatable segment 26 may then be articulated such that guardpiece 62 is positioned adjacent to the target tissue. Guard piece 62 maybe retracted in a proximal direction to expose at least a portion ofelectrodes 60. Electrodes 60 are then inserted into the target tissue. Atherapeutic energy may be delivered from electrodes 60 to the targettissue. A portion of the delivered therapeutic energy may be convertedto electric current (e.g., direct current) through a circuitrypositioned along electrodes 60. The electric current continuously powersone or more light-emitting members 69 positioned along articulatablesegment 26 to emit visible light for as long as the therapeutic energyis delivered from electrodes 60. The method results in at least oneresection, excision, coagulation, disruption, denaturation, or ablationof the target tissue. Following the treatment, guard piece 62 may beallowed to return to the position effective in shielding the pointedtips of electrodes 60. Articulatable segment 26 may be articulated to bein straight line with respect to the remainder of treatment member 12.Treatment member 12 may then be safely removed from the patient withoutcausing unintended effects.

TED devices disclosed herein are designed for tissue destruction ingeneral, such as resection, excision, coagulation, disruption,denaturation, and ablation, and are applicable in a variety of surgicalprocedures, including but not limited to open surgeries, minimallyinvasive surgeries (e.g., laparoscopic surgeries, endoscopic surgeries,surgeries through normal body orifices), thermal ablation surgeries,non-thermal surgeries, as well as other procedures known to one ofordinary skill in the art. The devices may be designed as disposables orfor repeated uses. The devices enable the operator to reach lines ofresection that are inaccessible with non-articulated devices, and/orinform the operator instantaneously that TE is actually delivered to thetarget tissue.

TEC to DC onboard the TED device as described herein may be used topower a variety of signaling, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic electroniccomponents, without requiring dedicated power wires to pass through thelongitude of treatment member 12 (including the articulation segment 24)and additional pressure seal, thus allowing the implementation ofvarious functionalities into the device to enhance the value of thedevice without significantly increasing its construction complexity(e.g., extra cables, and the likes thereof). Non-limiting examples ofsuch electronic components include indicator lights, lights forvisualization, diagnostic lights or electricity, andmicro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS, including sensor and emitterssuch as LEDs). In one example, the electronic component may be aminiaturized computer with a MEMS sensor, which may be placed near or ona tissue of interest to obtain various measurements (e.g., temperature,impedance, oxygen level). Such an electronic component may be powered byTE or electricity converted from TE, and may be able to send signalsback (e.g., along TE wires or other wires) to the control system (as afeedback mechanism). In addition, such functionalities (e.g., electroniccomponents) may be modularized and therefore scalable, so that theoperator or hospital can reduce cost of ownership by using the same coredevices and purchasing optional modules as the need arises. In oneexample, a DC-powered electronic component may be incorporated into theTED device for imaging light reflection in tissues for analyses of suchnon-limiting parameters as oxygen levels and tissue health. Whenlight-emitting members 69 are used as primary light sources within thevicinity of distal segment 26, they may be positioned such that light isemitted in distal and/or radial directions as illustrated herein. Whenother functionalities, such as imaging (e.g., through the use of acamera), is also implemented along distal segment 26, light-emittingmembers 69 may be arranged to emit light in proximal (e.g., facing thecamera) and/or radial directions.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive.This description will suggest many modifications, variations, andalternatives may be made by ordinary skill in this art without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Those familiar with the art mayrecognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments describedherein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited to theforegoing specification.

1. A lighting device for use as a visual indicator in a medical probe,comprising: one or more light emitting elements being used as a visualindicator for the medical probe, wherein the light emitting elementsinclude one or more light emitting diodes; a driver circuit having aninput for receiving current from a power source, wherein the powersource is an AC power source, and an output for providing a drivingcurrent to the light emitting elements, the driver circuit including: arectifier to rectify the power source current from AC to DC; a currentsensor to sense a current flowing through the light emitting elements,wherein the current sensor comprises a resistor connected to the lightemitting elements; and a shut off switch having an input connected tothe current sensor and adapted to shut off the power source current fromthe light emitting elements based on the sensed current.
 2. The lightingdevice of claim 1, wherein the medical probe provides therapeutic energyto tissue and the power source is used as an energy source for thedriver circuit and the therapeutic energy.
 3. The lighting device ofclaim 1, wherein the driver circuit further includes an energy supplyingcapacitor connected to the light emitting elements and providing currentthereto while the shut off switch is shutting off the power sourcecurrent from the light emitting elements.
 4. The lighting device ofclaim 1, wherein the driver circuit further includes a current limitingcapacitor connected between the power source and the shut off switch tolimit the current being supplied to the light emitting elements.
 5. Thelighting device of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is housed in themedical probe and the power source is located outside of the medicalprobe.
 6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein: the medical probeprovides therapeutic energy to tissue; the power source is used as anenergy source for both the driver circuit and the therapeutic energy;and the driver circuit further includes an energy supplying capacitorconnected to the light emitting elements and providing current theretowhile the shut off switch is shutting off the power source current fromthe light emitting elements.
 7. The lighting device of claim 6, whereinthe driver circuit further includes a current limiting capacitorconnected between the power source and the shut off switch to limit thecurrent being supplied to the light emitting elements.
 8. A lightingdevice for use as a visual indicator in a medical probe that deliverstherapeutic energy to tissue, comprising: one or more light emittingelements positioned in the medical probe and being used as a visualindicator to indicate that the medical probe is delivering thetherapeutic energy to the tissue, wherein the lighting elements includeone or more light emitting diodes; a driver circuit having an input forreceiving current from a power source, wherein the power source is an ACpower source, and wherein the power source also provides the therapeuticenergy to the tissue; and an output for providing a driving current tothe light emitting elements, the driver circuit including: a rectifierto rectify the power source current from AC to DC; a current sensor tosense a current flowing through the light emitting element, wherein thecurrent sensor comprises a resistor connected to the light emittingelements; and a shut off switch having an input connected to the currentsensor and adapted to shut off the power source current from the lightemitting elements based on the sensed current.
 9. The lighting device ofclaim 8, wherein the driver circuit further includes an energy supplyingcapacitor connected to the light emitting elements, the energy supplyingcapacitor being: chargeable by the power source while the drivingcurrent is being provided to the light emitting elements; and providingcurrent to the light emitting elements while the shut off switch isshutting off the power source current from the light emitting elements.10. The lighting device of claim 8, wherein the driver circuit furtherincludes a current limiting capacitor connected between the power sourceand the shut off switch to limit the current being supplied to the lightemitting elements.
 11. A method of providing power to one or more lightemitting elements for use as a visual indicator in a medical probe,wherein the light emitting elements are light emitting diodes,comprising: providing a current from a power source to the lightemitting elements, wherein the power source is an AC power source;rectifying a power source current from AC to DC to provide DC current toone or more of the light emitting diodes; sensing a current flowingthrough the light emitting elements; automatically shutting off thepower source current from the light emitting elements when the sensedcurrent reaches a predetermined threshold; and connecting the powersource current to the light emitting elements when the sensed currentretreats from the predetermined threshold.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the medical probe provides therapeutic energy to tissue and themethod includes using the power source as an energy source for thedriver circuit and the therapeutic energy.
 13. The method of claim 11,further comprising providing current to the light emitting elementsthrough an energy supplying capacitor connected to the light emittingelements while the power source current is shut off from the lightemitting elements.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step ofproviding a current from the power source includes limiting the powersource current through a current limiting capacitor connected to thepower source.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the driver circuit ishoused in the medical probe and the power source is located outside ofthe medical probe.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein: the medicalprobe provides therapeutic energy to tissue; the power source is used asan energy source for both the driver circuit and the therapeutic energy;and the method further includes providing a current to the lightemitting elements through an energy supplying capacitor connectedthereto while the power source current is shut off from the lightemitting elements.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step ofproviding a current from the power source includes limiting the powersource current through a current limiting capacitor connected to thepower source.